Four persons were killed and three others were injured when an elephant attacked them in the Nimapara and Pipili areas in Puri district on Sunday morning.
Three of the deceased were identified as Jugal Kishore Bhat of Gopinathpur village, Makara Pilai of Chandradeipur, both under the Balanga police station, and Chain Sahoo of Pipili. Another deceased’s identity was yet to be ascertained.
The tusker wreaked havoc when it strayed into human habitations under the Balanga PS crossing the highway.
Even as the police and forest officials have swung into action to drive away the elephant to the forest, locals alleged that the Forest Department never alerted them about the stray elephant roaming in the area. Had they been informed earlier, four lives would have been saved.
However, Balipatna Range Officer Jayakrushna Jadumani Das refuted the allegation of any negligence on the part of the Forest Department and said they are making all efforts to drive away the elephant into the wild.